Lyric Theatre, London – Press Night Review By Esther Austin Hadestown takes audiences on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two mythic love stories: that of the young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and his wife, Persephone. Deeply resonant yet defiantly hopeful, Hadestown asks us to imagine how the world could be. Its extraordinary musical landscape moves through American songwriting traditions, from indie folk and pop to blues a

Actors Debra and Chris Grossett on Stage "You do NOT want to miss this Jamaican drama. 'This is a great two-person, Jamaican play. A really wonderful story, completely different from the normal plays we are known for! 'Look What Fell Out De Mango Tree' tells the story of Debra's own life and her relationship with her father, in song and a funny, stirring and emotional dialogue. Debra says: "Chris and I are beyond excited to be taking Look What Fell Out De Mango Tree to Londo

William 'Mickey' Stevenson - Motown's Frist A&R Man, Record Producer and Andre Pittmon, CEO Enthrone Records Scherrie Payne of The Former Supremes shares her tribute On the Sofa with Esther Andre Pittmon talks about how Janie Bradford Mentored him Louvain Demps Legendary Motown Singer from the legendary group The Andantes Cherisse Wilson CEO of CMG Company Films

"Musicians who tour & record with the legendary Van Morrison, bring their unmissable weekly show to London’s Emerald Theatre packed with his rarely performed greatest hits TUESDAYS – THE EMERALD THEATRE, EMBANKMENT, LONDON" I attended Press Night on Tuesday 1st September 2026, alongwith my visiting international Guest Kwame McPherson, Global Award Winning Writer, Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2023 winner for the Caribbean and Global Awards. First half of review by Kwame McPe

Some people contribute to music. Others help shape its history. Janie Bradford did both. The passing of Janie Bradford on 21 August 2026 marked the loss of an extraordinary woman whose contribution to Motown, songwriting and the recognition of music industry pioneers deserves to be remembered for generations. For me, this tribute is also personal. I had the immense pleasure of meeting Janie and, later, being given the opportunity to interview her for On the Sofa with Esther.

Remembering a beautiful soul, phenomenal artist and woman whose greatest legacy was love I woke on Thursday 13th August 2026 to the deeply sad news of the passing of a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful soul — Thelma Stubbs Mitchell of The Stubb Girls, sister of the legendary Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops and Joe Stubbs of The Falcons and The Contours. For those who have kindly been sending me condolences, please send your love and condolences to Thelma's family. I write these wo

Alexandra Burke on Stage as Chaka Khan By Esther Austin | Culture & Lifestyle Journal I'd not known much about the life of one of music's most iconic artists until I watched I'm Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical. Press night on Tuesday 4th August the red carpet was buzzing with anticipation and familiar faces. I found myself catching up with Sheila Ferguson, formerly of The Three Degrees, Steven Collazo from Odyssey, Junior Giscombe, Carolyn Griffey from Shalamar and Soul

Afternoon tea is a quintessentially British tradition that offers a delightful break in the day with a perfect blend of tea, sandwiches, scones, and pastries. London, with its rich history and vibrant culinary scene, boasts some of the best tea spots in the world

Shalamar celebrates 50 years of Great Music on their Gold Tour

Friday, 10th July was truly an unforgettable evening. I had the chance to witness and celebrate Shalamar's performance at Charter Hall in Colchester. They were marking Shalamar: The Gold Tour 1976 - 2026, and I was thrilled to join in the celebration. The show had evolved since I last saw them a few years ago, and in my opinion, it just keeps getting better. This was more than a 50-year celebration; it was an incredible milestone. Gwen Dickey was the opening act for Shalamar.

An Unforgettable Encounter with Motown Legends Dr Otis Williams and Ronnie McNeir with Esther Austin

Group Photo at The Fair Pay Charter Gala in Portugal on 21st May with HRH The Duke of Braganza, Sheikh Aliur Rahman OBE, Sir Asif Bajwa, Esther Austin and other global dignitaries

THE JACKSONS Legendary Siblings & Titans of disco, return to the UK this Autumn with their 2026 live tour!

After a Little Anthony Concert in Las Vegas from The Imperials, with Lamont McLemore from The 5th Dimension. Also With The Late Sonny Turner from The Platters and Lamont McLemore.

Swan Lake Review at The Regent Theatre in Ipswitch

On 9th November 2025, Esther Austin Global had the honour of travelling to Paris. The occasion was to capture a remarkable moment in history for the creative team behind “I AM ETERNATURA – Lean On Me.” The director, Despoina Aslanoglou , led a project that resonates deeply with themes of empowerment and resilience. The Philosophy Behind ETERNATURA The philosophy of ETERNATURA is beautifully encapsulated in the clip "I Am Eternatura – Lean on Me." It illustrates the quiet yet

The Soul Food London Tour, which took place from 7–14 December 2025, was a resounding success. It brought together celebrated culinary talent from the United States for an unforgettable cultural and gastronomic experience in London.

“We have no brighter or stronger fire than what is burning in our creative souls.” — Yana Flame The Beginning of a Vision It all began in 2017 . Yana Flame showcased her work at various festivals, starting with London Fashion Week. This was followed by appearances at Rome Fashion Week, Paris, and Livorno. Eventually, she successfully launched her first major show, the Flame International Fashion and Art Festival , in London, a city renowned for its influence in fashion and ar

Stories have the power to move us, teach us, and inspire us to take action. When we listen to motivational storytelling, we gain insights that can transform our mindset and approach to challenges. This blog post explores valuable lessons drawn from some of the most inspiring interviews, offering practical advice and real-world examples to help you harness the power of storytelling in your own life. The Power of Motivational Storytelling Motivational storytelling is more than

Chef Nand: Patience, Perseverance, and Curry: Lessons from a Maidenhead Meeting, at The White Hart Pub, that he runs which is a family friendly destination pub offering Indian-British gastronomy, set in the gorgeous village of Holypot